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Forest Service | February 2016

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Florida, 2013 FORESTS OF

This periodic resource update provides an overview of forest

resources in Florida based on an inventory conducted by the

U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)

program at the Southern Research Station in cooperation with

the Florida Forest Service. Estimates are based on field data

collected using the FIA annualized sample design and are

updated yearly. The estimates presented in this update are for the

measurement year 2013, with comparisons made to data reported

in 2007. The sample plot population in Florida consists of 7,089

plots distributed across the State, of which about 20 percent are

collected annually. The 2013 estimates included 5 years of data

collection that measured 100 percent of the plots to produce the

updated estimates. Growth, removals, and mortality (GRM)

estimates were derived from remeasurement data on 6,474 of the

plots. The slightly smaller sample used for GRM estimates is

due to a combination of new and/or lost plots. The data used in

this publication were accessed from the FIA database on May 1,

2015 at http://www.fia.fs.fed.us/tools-data/.

Overview

Florida was home to 17.27 million acres of forest land in 2013.

Forested area increased by >2 percent (374,700 acres) since 2007

(table 1). Forest land includes areas designated as reserved,

whereas timberland is that portion not restricted from commer-

cial timber production, measured at 15.39 million acres in 2013.

The majority of this report is focused on timberland. The number

of live trees on Florida’s timberland was estimated at 7.01 billion

trees, a decrease of 4 percent from 2007. Net volume increased >

9 percent to 20.82 billion cubic feet. Average annual net growth

increased >17 percent to 0.87 billion cubic feet, whereas average

annual removals increased by >1 percent since 2007 to 0.57

billion cubic feet (table 1). The ecologically and commercially

important cypress is featured on page 4. Like overall trends,

cypress forest land increased while its timberland decreased.

Reclassification to reserved status influenced these changes.

Table 1—Florida's forest statistics, change between 2007 and 2013a

Forest statistics

2007

estimate

Sampling

error

2013

estimate

Sampling

error

Change

since 2007

percent percent

Forest land

Area (thousand acres) 16,897.1 0.86 17,271.8 0.84 374.7

Number of live trees ≥1.0 inch d.b.h. (million trees) 7,968.7 1.89 8,016.7 1.90 48.0

Net volume of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet) 20,336.7 1.99 22,528.8 1.94 2,192.1

Live tree aboveground biomass (thousand oven-dry tons) 529,845.4 1.76 579,123.6 1.75 49,278.2

Net annual growth of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet per year) n/a n/a 896.4 2.69 n/a

Annual removals of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet per year) n/a n/a 535.6 5.29 n/a

Annual mortality of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet per year) n/a n/a 283.7 4.94 n/a

Timberland

Area (thousand acres) 15,609.7 0.94 15,392.7 0.95 -217.0

Number of live trees ≥1.0 inch d.b.h. (million trees) 7,300.0 1.93 7,005.3 1.97 -294.7

Net volume of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet) 19,056.7 2.08 20,818.8 2.04 1,762.1

Live tree aboveground biomass (thousand oven-dry tons) 496,328.6 1.85 533,030.0 1.85 36,701.4

Net annual growth of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet per year) 743.5 3.13 871.9 2.75 128.4

Annual removals of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet per year) 563.6 4.87 570.5 5.74 6.9

Annual mortality of live trees ≥5.0 inches d.b.h. (million cubic feet per year) 226.8 4.83 263.6 5.21 36.8 a

Estimates for 2013 are comprised of five panels (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) constituting 100 percent new data. Growth, removals, and mortality estimates were

not collected on forest land in 2007. The 2007 estimates used were reported in Resource Update FS-27.

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Forest Area

Figure 1—Forest survey regions in Florida.

Table 2—Area of timberland by ownership and survey unit,

Florida, 2013

Category North-east

North-west Central South State

million acres

National forest 0.53 0.52 0.07 0.00 1.12

Other Federal 0.02 0.44 0.11 0.00 0.56

State and local government 0.82 0.80 0.76 0.36 2.74

Forest industry 0.67 0.06 0.02 0.01 0.77

Individual 1.65 1.57 0.63 0.22 4.08

Other corporate 2.70 2.05 1.00 0.36 6.12

Total 6.40 5.44 2.59 0.96 15.39

Table 3—Area of timberland by forest-type group and

survey unit, Florida, 2013

Forest-type group North-east

North-west Central South State

million acres

Longleaf-slash pine 2.40 2.07 0.56 0.29 5.32

Loblolly-shortleaf pinea 0.66 0.93 0.06 0.00 1.65

Oak-pine 0.60 0.62 0.24 0.07 1.53

Oak-hickory 1.11 0.73 0.74 0.12 2.69

Oak-gum-cypress 1.25 0.92 0.66 0.17 3.00

Elm-ash-cottonwood 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.00 0.09

Other hardwoods 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.03

Tropical hardwoods 0.06 0.00 0.17 0.16 0.38

Exotic hardwoods 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.07

Nonstocked 0.28 0.14 0.12 0.08 0.62

Total 6.40 5.44 2.59 0.96 15.39

a Includes other eastern softwoods.

Table 4—Areaa of timberland by stand origin and

survey unit, Florida, 2013

Stand origin

North-east

North-west Central South State

million acres

Planted 2.49 1.96 0.20 0.09 4.74

Natural 3.91 3.48 2.39 0.87 10.66

Total 6.40 5.44 2.59 0.96 15.39

a Sum of components and totals may differ due to rounding.

Florida is divided into four survey units (fig. 1). The total

timberland in all survey units in 2013 was 15.39 million acres.

The Northeast unit contained the most with 6.40 million acres, or

42 percent (table 2). The Northwest unit had 35 percent, the

Central unit 17 percent, and the South unit 6 percent of the

timberland.

Other corporate ownerships accounted for the most timberland

with 6.12 million acres, or 40 percent (table 2). Private

individual ownerships combined for <27 percent, State/local

governments for >18 percent, national forest 7 percent, forest

industry for 5 percent, and other Federal ownerships accounted

for <4 percent.

Most private individual ownerships, 40 percent, were located in

the Northeast unit, which also contained 87 percent of the forest

industry timberland. National forest timberland was split

between the Northeast and Northwest units. Most other

corporate timberland, 44 percent, was found in the Northeast

unit, whereas most other Federal timberland, 79 percent, was

located in the Northwest unit.

The longleaf-slash pine forest-type group dominated with 5.32

million acres, or 35 percent, of all timberland (table 3). The oak-

gum-cypress group covered 19 percent, the oak-hickory group

17 percent, the loblolly-shortleaf pine group 11 percent, and the

oak-pine group 10 percent of the timberland.

The largest portion of the longleaf-slash pine group, 45 percent,

was located in the Northeast unit. More of the oak-gum-cypress

group, 42 percent, as well as more of the oak-hickory group, 41

percent, also occurred in the Northeast unit. The majority of the

loblolly-shortleaf pine group, 56 percent, was found in the

Northwest unit. The oak-pine group was largely split between

the Northwest and Northeast units.

Planted stands accounted for 31 percent, or 4.74 million acres, of

the timberland (table 4). The Northeast unit contained 53 percent

of the planted acres, the Northwest unit 41 percent, the Central

unit 4 percent, and <2 percent were in the South unit.

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Florida timberland contained 20.82 billion cubic feet of total

wood volume in 2013. Softwood species made up 11.86 billion

cubic feet, or 57 percent, of total inventory (table 5). Hardwood

species made up 8.96 billion cubic feet, or 43 percent, of the

total volume in the State. Total softwood inventory was highest

(41 percent) in the Northwest unit and lowest (5 percent) in the

South unit. Total hardwood inventory was highest (40 percent)

in the Northeast unit and lowest (4 percent) in the South unit.

Statewide, net growth of softwoods averaged 654.55 million

cubic feet annually (table 5). Most of the softwood net growth,

48 percent, occurred in the Northeast unit. Another 42 percent

occurred in the Northwest unit. In addition, 57 percent of the

State’s average annual 467.17 million cubic feet of softwood

removals came from the Northeast alone. Most of the remainder

(38 percent) came from the Northwest unit. However, the

softwood growth-to-removals ratio was higher (1.54) in the

Northwest unit than it was in the Northeast unit (1.17). The

highest softwood growth-to-removals ratio in the State (3.43)

occurred in the Central unit, although its softwood resource was

just 15 percent of the State total.

The State’s net growth of hardwoods averaged 217.32 million

cubic feet annually. Slightly more of the hardwood net growth,

40 percent, occurred in the Northwest unit. Another 39 percent

Volume, Biomass, and Trends

Table 5—All-live (trees >5 inches d.b.h.) volume of net growth, removals, and total inventorya on timberland for

softwoods and hardwoods by survey unit, Florida, 2013

Category North-east

North-west Central South State

million cubic feet

Softwood

Net growth 311.27 273.96 48.58 20.73 654.55

Removals 266.98 177.87 14.18 8.14 467.17

G/R ratioa 1.17 1.54 3.43 2.55 1.40

Total inventory 4,582.97 4,813.57 1,826.32 635.75 11,858.61

Hardwood

Net growth 85.08 86.46 32.86 12.92 217.32

Removals 47.43 20.25 28.49 7.20 103.37

G/R ratiob 1.79 4.27 1.15 1.79 2.10

Total inventory 3,554.91 3,134.02 1,918.55 352.70 8,960.17

All species

Net growth 396.35 360.42 81.44 33.65 871.87

Removals 314.41 198.12 42.67 15.34 570.54

G/R ratiob 1.26 1.82 1.91 2.19 1.53

Total inventory 8,137.88 7,947.59 3,744.48 988.44 20,818.78

a Sums and totals may differ due to rounding. b Net growth/removals ratio.

Table 6—Aboveground biomass (trees >1 inch d.b.h.) and carbon estimates on timberland for softwoods and

hardwoods by survey unit, Florida, 2013

Category North-east

North-west Central South State

million tons

Softwood

Biomass 111.49 111.28 40.50 14.84 278.11

Carbon 55.74 55.64 20.25 7.42 139.05

Hardwood

Biomass 103.57 85.92 54.86 10.57 254.92

Carbon 51.78 42.96 27.43 5.28 127.46

Total

Biomass 215.06 197.21 95.36 25.41 533.03

Carbon 107.53 98.60 47.68 12.70 266.51

occurred in the Northeast unit. The State’s hardwood removals

averaged 103.37 million cubic feet annually. Most of the

hardwood removals, 46 percent, came from the Northeast unit,

and another 28 percent came from the Central unit. The

hardwood growth-to-removals ratio was highest (4.27) in the

Northwest unit and lowest in the Central unit (1.15).

Aboveground biomass totaled 533.03 million dry weight tons in

Florida. Softwood species made up 278.11 million tons, or 52

percent, of the total biomass (table 6). Hardwood species made

up 254.92 million tons, or 48 percent, of total biomass.

The Northeast and Northwest units each contained 40 percent

of the softwood biomass. The Northeast unit contained the

largest portion (41 percent) of the hardwood biomass.

Black bear in sand pine scrub of Ocala National Forest, Florida. (photo by Florida

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

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Cypress Trends in Florida

How to Cite This Publication Brown, M.J., Nowak, J.. 2016. Forests of Florida,

2013. Resource Update FS–73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,

Southern Research Station. 4 p.

Contact Information Mark J. Brown, Forester

Forest Inventory and Analysis Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service

4700 Old Kingston Pike

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919 Phone: 865-862-2033 / Fax: 865-862-0262

Email: mbrown03@fs.fed.us

Southern FIA: http://srsfia2.fs.fed.us National FIA: http://fia.fs.fed.us

Jarek Nowak, Forest Utilization Specialist

Florida Forest Service

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Tallahassee, FL 32399

Phone: 850-681-5883/ Fax: 850-681-5809 Email: jarek.nowak@freshfromflorida.com

www.freshfromflorida.com

The published report is available online at http://treesearch.fs.fed.us

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

www.fia.fs.fed.us

In 2013, cypress forest type covered 0.96 million acres in

Florida, down from the 1.40 million acres it occupied at the time

of the 1987 Florida FIA inventory. From 1987 to 1995, acreage

of cypress type decreased 19 percent to 1.13 million acres. The

downward trend continued to 2007 with a 6 percent drop to 1.06

million acres. From 2007 to 2013, cypress type decreased

another 9 percent to 0.96 million acres (table 7).

The total number of cypress trees decreased by 18 percent from

808.02 million trees in 1987 to 660.44 million trees in 1995.

That number decreased by 13 percent to 573.87 million trees in

2007. In 2013, the decrease in total number of cypress trees

slowed to just 1 percent at 568.28 million trees.

The decline in net volume of cypress trees has halted. Between

1987 and 1995, volume of cypress decreased by 13 percent, from

2.76 to 2.40 billion cubic feet (table 7). From 1995 to 2007,

volume of cypress decreased by >1 percent to 2.37 billion cubic

feet. From 2007 to 2013, volume of cypress increased by <7

percent to 2.53 billion cubic feet.

The number of cypress trees by diameter class distribution

changed as well. From 1987 to 1995, cypress tree diameter

classes decreased in tree numbers for all diameters below 12

inches (fig. 2). From 1995 to 2007, similar reductions in all

Table 7—Changes in cypress on timberland by

year, Florida, 1987–2013

Year

Area of

cypress

forest type

Number of

live trees

>1 inch d.b.h.

Net volume of

live trees >5

inches d.b.h.

million

acres

- million - - billion ft3-

1987 1.40 808.02 2.76

1995 1.13 660.44 2.40

2007 1.06 573.87 2.37

2013 0.96 568.28 2.53

Source: Evalidator, accessed online May 1, 2015.

Figure 2—Number of cypress trees >1 inch diameter class on timber-

land, Florida, 1987–2013.

cypress diameter classes below 12 inches occurred but to a

lesser extent. Since 2007, the losses within diameter classes have

generally become limited to the 4- to 6- inch classes. The 2013

cypress diameter class distribution actually increased slightly in

the 2-inch diameter class.

Cypress along boardwalk at Tallahassee, FL. (photo by Tim Ross, Wikimedia.org)